Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-08-29
MEAT MARGINS.
Enormous Profits Made Through the
Dressed Beef Monopoly,

hHAO GTObtB UkhaC 4hTuux IL TIC
Dressed Beef Monopoly,
Chicago special: The Tribune this
morning has a long article on the dress
ed beef ring and how 1t is profiting by
the low price of cattle. 1t says it is as
snmed in many quarters that q beef
famine is not far away. Estimates as to
the destruction of cattle in she north
west last winter are thai in Montana.
there were about 400, 600 head, In Idaho,
about 10000, in Wyoming about 100000,
in Colorado about $4,000, or $4,000 head
in all. During the summer, on account
excessive drouth, it is estimated that the
Losses in the beef producing states, such
as Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Missouri. Kan
sas and in New Mexico, Texas, Nebraska,
Minnesota and Dakota will swell the
total to 1900 900 head of beeves. Many,
however, assert that these figures are
far too high. But this is not the main
fact which Indicates a future famine. It
is now known that from 80 to rs per
cent less Of calves were born this spring
than IS usual, owing to climatic causes,
which must have Its effect IN time. To
this must be added the fact that cattle
producers have been rushing their sur
viving stock on the market at an I'M
paralelledrate. and that from these and
and other causes many ranchmen are
discouraged and are going out of the
business. Those who are opposed to
this view argue that there are still 49,.
000, 000 besves and 100000 milch COWS
10 the country, The bulk of these, how
evew, enter into local consumption and
use.
A great uneasiness, such as never be-
fore characterized the cattle business is
manifest in business circles. The pro-
Queer finds not q dollar OF profit and
more often heavy losses charged against
his account. The market price has been
low ON account of the glut, for ia Chi
cago alone over 100000 head OF cattle
have been thrust on the market during
the last 80 days. In order to get IN
formation on the cattle question fully
LOO authorities have been consulted,
covering the entire productive area, and
the views Of these men, together with
the facts obtained, are brought together.
Only the commission man with his
hands full of business seems happy.
The producer is pessimistic. The stock.
yards were never In q state OF greater
activity. The receipts in a single day
have been 1850 head of cattle, the
largest known. Rangers from all parts
of the country abound, and each one
has Q different story to tell. Tue yards
are OVERLOOKING with stock. Money is
in great demand and prices are regulated
according to the necessity for cash of
the producer. While some beeyes are
in fine condition the generality are thin
and thirst starved stock.
One thing that impresses the eonsnm-
er ia that hegets beef no cheeper because
the producer sells il fcs so little. Who
is it gets the big sum in between the
price paid by the producer and the CON
snmerP 1t 10 limited by ranchman that
it is q dressed beef monopoly. Inter
state laws have no terrors for
these dressed beef men. The low price
of beef is their opportunity. IT they
fail to keep beef down they will quickly
purchase all than is offered for future
delivery. These m6nopolies lash both
sldes, the producer and consumer alike
On every bullock there ia 8 profit Of $40
TO the dressed beef monopoly; and either
a loss or an VI thing for the producer.
Theconsumer pays the monopoly the
extra $40 profit,